PROLIFIC scoring Rob Roy hitman Willie Sawyers is set to undergo the ultimate acid test of his goalscoring abilities when the Rabs host the visit of Petershill in a crunch Super Premier Division contest today.

So says his team manager and ex-Peasy defensive stalwart Stewart Maxwell in the wake of his 29-year-old striker’s goal in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Beith chalking up a remarkable 50th score for him in just 65 appearances for the Kirkintilloch club, with 18 of his total coming in 27 top league encounters.

Maxi insisted: “We didn’t play particularly well in quite horrendous conditions down at Beith and hardly deserved a last-minute Davie Barr goal that salvaged a point.

“In fact, the only positives to take from the game were a stunning display of goalkeeping from young Jordan Brown and, of course, Willie doing what he does best and finding the net once again.

“He turns into a 'goals machine' whenever he pulls on a Rob Roy jersey and his 50-goals milestone is a terrific scoring achievement in these modern times.

“That said he won’t find openings easy to come by against Petershill whose manager Willie Patterson is so well versed in the art of setting out his team’s stall in how to shut up shop.

“Admittedly they suffered heavy defeats earlier this season against Auchinleck Talbot, Pollok and Hurlford, but the very fact no other top-flight team has managed to score more than a single goal against them speaks volumes.

“And if anything Willie has forged his defenders into an even tighter unit in recent months given they will be coming through to Guys Meadow to face ourselves on the back of 270 minutes playing action without conceding a goal.

“All credit to him and his players but if we can just get the ball to Sawyers in and around the penalty area then he’s just the man to crack them open.”

One-time Harmony Row scoring protégé Sawyers is delighting in his second time around stint with the Rabs following a less than satisfying season…by his own standards…as a Pollok player.

He said: “I scored plenty of goals in the Juniors with Renfrew and in my first spell with Rob Roy, but never really hit the heights at Newlandsfield even though I did manage a total of 18 goals under John Richardson.

“But netting only twice in Super Premier games had people dubbing me a failure at the very top level so hopefully I’ve put that notion to bed since coming to Rob Roy again.

“My confidence is high as you might expect from playing in such an attack-minded team that is forever creating opportunities and clearly I benefit in this respect and from having the perfect foil in Kevin Watt, a top-notch frontman in his own respect.

“He’s a very mobile type whose running creates so much space for myself while the service provided from wide players Chris Duff, Gavin Mackie and Ally Martin is a dream for any striker.

“Most of us, myself included, were out of sorts against Beith which might be a result of the team losing a bit of momentum through games being postponed, but another factor was injuries ruling out Duff and Paul Finnigan.

“Finny will be pulling out all the stops to play against one of his former teams and hopefully he can declare himself fit because it will be difficult to get ourselves back on track tomorrow given Petershill are playing well and putting a run together.

“A lot of rival clubs will be waiting for us to slip up so it would be a massive boost for everyone connected with Rob Roy if we were to pick up all three points.”

Petershill, whose full-back James Brown is tipped to sign for Blantyre Vics or his previous club Cumbernauld United today, report no injury concerns, however Patterson may change his winning line-up in order to give fit-again striker Stephen McGladrigan some much-needed game time ahead of next weekend’s ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup clash away to Beith.

Current frontrunners Pollok will no doubt be doubly motivated in seeking to maintain their top-of-the-pile position with a revenge win over Shettleston who ran out 1-0 winners when the city rivals clashed at Newlandsfield back in November.

Third-placed Glenafton host the visit of reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot, currently in fourth place and determined to avoid a third consecutive league defeat following reverses against Kilbirnie Ladside and Pollok.

Meanwhile, there is every likelihood of Blasties gaffer Stevie Swift unveiling his new striker signing Martin Grehan from Arbroath in the Valefield head to head with Troon.

Thirty-one-year-old Grehan who played in the Juniors with Dundonald Bluebell prior to stepping up to Motherwell in 2008 could form a formidable attacking trio alongside fellow ex-Senior frontmen Kevin Turner and Adam Forde.

TODAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup fourth round: Camelon v Dundee North End, Glenrothes v Hermes.

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup second round: Cumnock v Rossvale, Vale of Clyde v Cambuslang Rangers, Clydebank v Whitletts Vics.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Beith, Rob Roy v Petershill, Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Troon, Shettleston v Pollok, Irvine Meadow v Hurlford Utd.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Shotts Bon Accord v Kilwinning Rangers, Greenock v Yoker Athletic, Blantyre Vics v Bellshill Athletic, Largs Thistle v Kilsyth Rangers, Maybole v Cumbernauld Utd, Rutherglen Glencairn v Winton Rovers. McBookie.com Central First Division: Johnstone Burgh v St Anthony’s, Carluke Rovers v St Roch’s, Dunipace v Renfrew, Lesmahagow v Maryhill, Neilston v Wishaw, Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Forth v Lanark Utd, Newmains Utd v Port Glasgow, East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Leven, Royal Albert v Gartcairn, Glasgow Perthshire v Ashfield.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Ardeer Thistle v Annbank Utd, Dalry Thistle v Muirkirk, Saltcoats Vics v Darvel, Girvan v Kello Rovers, Craigmark v Lugar Boswell.